Journal of Physical Chemistry B, Vol.119, No.7, 3259-3272, 2015
Structure and Properties of Orthoborate Glasses in the Eu2O3-(Sr,Eu)O-B2O3 Quaternary
The structure and properties of melt-quenched glasses and partially crystallized samples from the borate series (1-2x)Eu2O3-x((Eu,Sr)O-B2O3) were investigated in the supermodified regime of x < 0.5, using Raman, infrared (IR), electron spin resonance (ESR), and UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. ESR and optical spectroscopy showed that, despite the strongly reducing synthesis conditions, the Eu2+/Eu3+ equilibrium remained shifted to the side of trivalent Eu3+. Stable and transparent overmodified borate glasses were produced for compositions with x = 0.36. Higher europium oxide concentrations resulted in precipitation of crystalline Eu2Sr3(BO3)(4) and EuBO3 phases, as traced by X-ray diffraction. Raman and IR spectroscopy showed that the metaborate configuration which is present at x = 0.46 transforms gradually, with increasing Eu2O3 levels, into orthoborate [BO3](3-) triangular units. At higher europium oxide content (x = 0.36), the presence of Eu3+ supports the formation of orthoborate [BO2O2](3-) tetrahedral species. These units organize into [B3O9](9-) rings, which exist in equilibrium with [BO3](3-) triangles. As a consequence, distinct variations can be observed also in the macroscopic properties such as density, glass transition temperature, refractive index, optical basicity, and oxygen polarizability. This observation confirms previous findings on manganese-strontium borates with high modification levels.